📸 All set for Movement party top organ elections at Kololo

KAMPALA - The first meeting of the fourth National Resistance Movement (NRM) national conference has already kicked off at the Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala city, today, August 27, 2025.

According to the agenda, the party's national executive council will present the names of its recommended persons for the election of the party's top decision-making organ: the central executive committee (CEC) positions.

These positions include the national chairperson, 1st national vice-chairperson, 2nd national vice-chairperson (female), and six vice chairpersons representing the regions of east, central, north, west, Kampala, and Karamoja. 

President Yoweri Museveni and First Lady Janet Kataha Musesveni as they arrived for the ceremony. Credit: Miriam Namutebi)

Vice President Jessica Alupo and Speaker of Parliament Anita Among.

However, the fiercest fighting that extends far beyond party lines is between Speaker of Parliament Anita Among and the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, Rebecca Kadaga. Kadaga is a former Speaker of Parliament.

Among, who is backed by former power brokers such as the former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi and former foreign affairs minister Sam Kutesa, wants to remove Kadaga from the position of the 2nd national vice chairperson (female).

The President and First Lady during the singing of anthems.

CEC is the party’s top organ, which analysts say is the de facto nucleus of political decision-making in Uganda. 

A cacophony

A cacophony greets you as you arrive at the Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala, where the National Resistance Movement (NRM) elections for representatives to the party’s special organs are taking place.

The main entrance is adorned with campaign posters of various candidates in these high-stakes elections, which end on Thursday (August 28).

At the grounds that have been painted yellow, the official NRM colour, small groups of energetic supporters of various candidates blow vuvuzelas, which have become a fixture in these polls.  

Others sing and dance to electrify the elections that have seen close to 300 candidates nominated by the party’s electoral commission.

There is no chance for quiet conversation, especially in the voting arena, as supporters, mostly youth, chant the names of their candidates to try to make themselves heard.

The delegates from the 146 districts in Uganda seem to have had food and drinks in plenty, as leftovers littered several parts of the grounds on Tuesday (August 27), which was the second day of the conference of special interest groups.

On the same day, party electoral commission chairperson Dr Tanga Odoi assured all candidates of equal treatment after supporters of one of the candidates turned rowdy.

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Below is a picture highlight of the first meeting of the fourth National Resistance Movement (NRM) national conference taking place at the Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala city, today, August 27, 2025, as captured by Vision Group multimedia journalists, Miriam Namutebi & Smon Peter Tumwine;